Wrench.



Nd. 635,463: Patented Oct. 24, I899.

c. w. BRADSHAW.

W R E N C H (Application filgd Dec. 20, 1897.]

(No Model.)

Charles I/IZ'Era is haw/ M/a/z/wn 0741M WITNESSES. W 4%,

CHARLES W. BRADSHAW, OF ARGENTINE, KANSAS.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 63 5,463, dated October 24, 1899.

Application filed December 20, 1897. Serial No. 662,550. (No model.)

State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relatesto improvements in wrenches, and relates particularly to the class of wrenches termed monkey wrenches, which are provided with two jaws, one of which is fixed to ashank upon which the other jaw is movable toward and from the fixed jaw.

The object of my invention is to provide a wrench of this class with means for quickly adjusting the movable jaw to the position desired and then quickly and securely locking it in place.

My invention consists in providing a wrench having a shank at one end of which is a fixed jaw, a jaw movable upon the shank toward and from the fixed jaw, a sleeve rotatably mounted upon the shank and movable lengthwise thereon'with the movable jaw, and means by which the sleeve may be locked against lengthwise movement on the shank by being rotated upon the shank in the proper direction.

My invention provides, further, a wrench having a shank at one end of which is a fixed jaw, a jaw movable upon the shank toward and from the fixed jaw, and a sleeve rotatably mounted upon the shank and movable lengthwise thereon with the movable jaw, the shank being externally and the sleeve internally screw-threaded, longitudinal sections of the threaded portions of the shank and sleeve being cut away, whereby the sleeve may be moved lengthwise upon the shank with the movable jaw when the sleeve is rotated to the proper position upon the shank.

My invention provides, further, a wrench having a shank at one end of which is a fixed jaw, a-jaw and sleeve movable together toward and from the fixed jaw upon the shank, the sleeve being rotatable upon the shank and both shank and sleeve being provided with a screw-thread connection with each other and each having longitudinal sections of the threaded portions cut away, so as to permit lengthwise movement of the sleeve independent of the screw-threaded connection when the sleeve is rotated to the proper position upon the shank, and a locking mechanism for preventing rotation of the sleeve upon the shank.

My invention provides, still further,certain peculiarities ofconstruction,hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of my invention, Figure I represents a side elevation view of a wrench constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention, the sleeve being shown in the position occupied by it when the threaded portions of the sleeve and shank are engaged with each other, the movable jaw thus being locked in the position occupied by it. Fig. II represents a transverse horizontal sectional view taken on the dotted line a b of Fig. I, the sleeve being shown in the locked position. Fig. III represents a vertical sectional view of a portion of the shank, movable jaw, and sleeve provided with a modification of the device for locking the sleeve upon the shank. Fig. IV represents an end view of the sleeve detached. Fig. V represents a view similar to the one in Fig. II, the sleeve being in the position in which its threads are disengaged from the shank-threads. Fig. VI represents a side elevation of the lower or movable jaw detached. Fig. VII represents a top view of the same. Fig. VIII represents a side elevation of the sleeve.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts.

1 indicates the upper jaw, fixed to the upper end of the shank 2, the shank having the form common with this class of wrenches, two of the opposite sides being fiat and parallel and the other two sides being in the form of arcs the shank is fitted. The movable jaw when free to move on the shank can be slid back and forth thereon between the handle and the fixed jaw. One side of the jaw 5 is provided with a recess 7, in which is fitted an annular sleeve 8, the inner wall of which is threaded to correspond with the threads 3 of the shank. The interior wall of the sleeve 8 is provided with diametrically opposite recesses 9, formed by cut-ting away sections of the threads the whole length of the sleeve. These recesses are wide enough to permit the sleeve to slide along the shank when the sleeve is rotated to a position such that the recesses will be opposite to the threaded portions of the shank. Such a position of the sleeve is shown in Fig. V. The sleeve is of such a diameter as will permit it to freely rotate on the shank within the recess '7 through a part of a complete circle. It is provided with a portion having a larger diameter, as indicated by 10, which serves to limit the distance of rotation. The enlarged portion 10 is provided, preferably, with a milled periphery, so as to enable the fingers to more securely grasp it for the purpose of turning it. To prevent backward rotation of the sleeve from any position in which it may be placed, a locking device is provided, consisting of a fiat spring 11, one end of which is secured to the outer periphery of the sleeve adjacent to one end of the enlarged portion 10. The free end of the spring is provided with an inwardly-extending projection 12, adapted to strike against the outside of the jaw 5 when the sleeve is rotated sut'ficiently to have its threads fully engage the threads of the shank, as shown in Figs. I and II. A peripheral recess 13 is provided in the outer wall of the sleeve to permit the compression therein of the spring, so as to allow the sleeve to be rotated in the opposite direction, whereby the threaded portion of the sleeve may be freed from engagement with the threaded portion of the shank, as shown in Fig. V. \Vhen the sleeve is in this position, the spring has a bearing against the inside of the jaw 5 and by its frictional contact therewith prevents the rotation of the sleeve. lVhen the parts are in the last-described position, the jaw 5 may be freely moved lengthwise upon the shank to a position desired for use.

I11 the modified form of locking device shown in Fig. III a bow-shaped spring (indicated by 14:) is inserted in a recess 15, provided therefor in the inner side of the jaw 5 at the rear end of the recess '7. This spring is so formed as to have a bearing against the outer wall of the sleeve and by its frictional contact therewith prevents the accidental rotation of the sleeve upon the shank. IVhen such a form of locking device is employed, the spring 11 is dispensed with.

In operating my invention thespring II is compressed and the sleeve is turned to the left, as viewed in Fig. I, until the enlarged portion eomesin contact with the jaw 5. The

jaw 5 is then slid on the shank to the position desired to engage the nut or other object to be grasped. The sleeve is then rotated to the right, when the threads therein will engage the threads of the shank and prevent the jaw from moving on the shank. To permit ready engagement of the threads of the sleeve and shank, one set of ends of the threads on each side of the shank may be made beveled, as indicated by 16 in Fig. I.

Any style of jaw may be employed to suit the purpose for which the wrench may be' used, and numerous modifications in construction may be made without departing from the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Iatent, is

1. In a wrench, the combination with a shank having a fixed jaw, of a jaw mounted upon the shank and movable thereon toward and from the fixed jaw, a sleeve encircling and rotatably mounted upon the shank and movable lengthwise thereon with the movable jaw, means for preventinglengthwise move ment of the sleeve when it has been rotated to the proper position upon the shank, and means for holding the sleeve from rotation in either direction from such said position, substantially as described.

2. In a wrench, the combination with a shank having a fixed jaw, of a jaw mounted upon the shank and movable thereon toward and from the fixed jaw, a sleeve encircling and rotatably mounted upon the shank and movable lengthwise thereon with the movable jaw, means for preventing lengthwise movement of the sleeve when it has been rotated to the proper position upon the shank, anda locking device for normally holding the sleeve from rotating from any position, substantially as described.

3. In a wrench, the combination with a shank having a fixed jaw, of a jaw mounted upon the shank and movable thereon toward and from the fixed jaw, a sleeve encircling and rotatably mounted upon the shank and movable lengthwise thereon and serving as an abutment preventing the movement of the movable jaw away from the fixed jaw, and means for preventing lengthwise movement of the sleeve when it has been rotated to the proper posit-ion upon the shank, substantially as described.

at. In a wrench, the combination with a shank having a fixed jaw, of a jaw mounted upon the shank and movable thereon toward and from the fixed jaw, a sleeve serving as an abutment for the movable jaw and encircling and rotatably mounted upon the shank and movable lengthwise thereon, means for preventing lengthwise movement of the sleeve when it has been rotated to the proper position upon the shank, and means for interposing a frictional resistance to the rotation of the sleeve, substantially as described.

5. In a wrench, the combination with a shank having a fixed jaw, of a jaw movable upon the shank toward and from the fixed jaw, a sleeve encircling and rotatably mounted upon the shank and movable lengthwise thereon and serving as an abutment for the movable jaw, means for preventing lengthwise movement of the sleeve when it has been rotated to the proper position upon the shank, and a spring for exerting a resistance to the rotation of the sleeve relative to the movable jaw, substantially as described.

6. In a wrench, the combination with a shank having a fixed jaw, of a jaw movable upon the shank toward and from the fixed jaw, a sleeve rotatably mounted upon the shank and movable lengthwise thereon and serving as an abutment for the movable jaw, and a spring on the sleeve adapted to engage with the movable jaw to prevent rotation of the sleeve, substantially as described.

7. In a wrench, the combination with a screw-threaded shank having a fixed jaw, of a jaw movable upon the shank toward and from the fixed jaw, a rotatable internallyscrew-threaded sleeve adapted to serve as an abutment for the movable jaw, longitudinal sections being cut away in the threaded portions of the shank and sleeve whereby the sleeve may be moved longitudinally upon the shank when rotated in the proper position, and a locking device for preventing rotation of the sleeve, substantially as described.

8. In a wrench, the combination with a screw-threaded shank having a fixed jaw, of a jaw movable upon the shank toward and from the fixed jaw, a sleeve internallyscrewthreaded and serving as an abutment for the movable jaw and rotatable upon the shank, longitudinal sections of the threaded portions of the shank and sleeve being cut away so as to permit the lengthwise movement of the sleeve upon the shank when the sleeve has been rotated to the proper position upon the shank, and a spring having frictional contact between the movable jaw and the sleeve for'preventing rotation of the sleeve, substantially as described.

9. In a wrench, the combination with a shank having a fixed jaw, of a jaw movable lengthwise upon the shank, a sleeve encircling the shank and movable lengthwise and rotatably thereon and serving as an abut= ment for the movable jaw, means for preventing longitudinal movement of the sleeve when the sleeve is rotated to the proper position, and a spring carried on the periphery of the sleeve and adapted when not depressed to have contact with the movable jaw for preventing rotation of the sleeve, substantially as described.

10. In a wrench, the combination with a shank having a fixed jaw, of a jaw movable lengthwise upon the shank, a sleeve encircling the shank and provided with a recess and movable lengthwise and rotatably thereon and serving as an abutment for the mow able jaw, means for preventing longitudinal movement of the sleeve when the sleeveis rotated to the proper position, and a spring carried on the sleeve in the said recess and adapted when not depressed therein to have contact with the movable jaw for preventing its rotation, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two wit nesses.

CHARLES W". BRADSl-IAV.

WVitnesses:

WARREN D. HOUSE, E. E. CHANDLER. 

